Envelop-fastener



(No Model.)

W. BARNARD.

ENVELOP PASTENER.

Patented. June 28, y1898 ma mms PETERS cn. PHOTO-uwe., wAsummoN n. c.

lJNrrun STATES WILLIAM ABARNARD, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENvELoP-I-'ASTEN ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,498, dated June 28,1898.

Application filed February 3, 1898.` Serial No. 668,995. (No model.) h

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BARNARD, a subject of the Queen ofGreat-Britain, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have inventeda certain new and usefulImprovement in Envelop-Fasteners, of which the fol'- lowing is aspecification.

Myinvention relates to a new and useful improvement inenvelop-fasteners; andthe object thereof is to provide an improved formof fastener for envelops for the mailing of catalogues, pamphlets,seeds, samples of merchandise, tbc., of such construction that theenvelop may be readily opened and closed by the post-office officialswhen desired; and a further `object of my invention is to accomplishthis result by the use of a single piece of metal.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details ofconstruction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth, and thenspecifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this inventionappertains may understand how to make and use the Y same, theconstruction and operation will now be described in detail, referring tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, inwhich-m Figure l is a view of the rear portion of an envelop having myimproved fastener attached thereto;` Fig. E?, a central section of suchan envelop, showing the fastener before used; Fig. 3, aview similar toFig. I, the iiap of the envelop being closed and secured by thefastener; Fig. 4, a central section of Fig. 3, showing the folding ofthe fastener and end of the flap in their relative position; Fig. 5, aview similar to Fig. l with one of the side liaps turned back toillustrate the manner of attaching the fastener to this flap; Fig. 6, across-section of the' envelop, taken through the fastener and showingthe manner of attaching the same to the side flap; Fig. 7, a viewsimilar to Fig. 6, but illustratingranother manner of attaching thefastener to the side flaps; Fig. 8, a detailof the fastener of the formadapted to be attached to the side Hap in conjunction with a backing;Fig. 9, a slightly-modified form of fastener having four prongs forattachment to the side iiaps without the use of a backing; and Fig. 10,a slight i modification in which another form of my improvement isshown, whereby but a single bend of the metal clip is necessary to closethe envelop.

In carrying out Iny invention as here embodied I form a fastener A froma single piece of sheet metal, preferably soft brass, in such manner asto produce the indentations B therein, the object being to form a narrowline at two points upon the fastener, so as to facilitate the bendingthereof upon these lines. Prongs D are also formed with the fastener forthe purpose of attaching it to the side flap E of the envelop, and it ispreferable in practice that a backing F, of cloth or other suitablematerial, be attached to the inner surface of the iiap prior to thesecurement of the fastener thereto in order that the prongs when passingthrough the iiap and backing may be bent inward against the backing, andthereby secure a better hold and avoid the tearing out of theprongs.When an envelop thus provided with my improved fastener is to be used,the flap G is closed in the usual manner,the end thereof falling uponthe fastener, but reaching only to the lower indentation, and to `securethis liap in place it is only necessary to bend the lower portion of thefastener thereon and again fold the remaining section of the fastenerupward,which will carry with it the end of the envelop, producing theeffect shownin Figs. 3 and 4,wh'ich will afford a firm fastener and yetpermit the opening of the envelop without injury to the fastener by areversed operation.

Although my improved fastener may be attached to any ordinary envelopwith apointed iiap, I prefer that the extreme end of the flap should beslightly rounded, which affords a better hold and facilitates themanipulation of the fastener. Of course I do not wish to limit myself toany particular form of fastener, since it could be operated without theindentations, or these indentations maybe of any desired form andarrangement; vbut the form I have here shown produces a neat ,appearancewhen the envelop is closed, as shown in Fig. 3, and may have atrade-mark or configuration upon the surface which is thus eX- posed.

In Fig. 9 a fastener is illustrated having four prongs H, and this formis especially IOO adapted for use when it is desired to attach afastener directly to the side flaps of the envelop without a backing,and in so doing the prongs are forced through both of the side` flaps.The latter will thereby be more tightly secured together and may only beglued prior to the securement. Such a method of securement is shown insection in Fig. 7.

It is 'to be noted that a fastener made in accordance with myimprovement when securing the closing-flap of an envelop presents noprojections which could be easily entangled with surrounding objects,and this is an important feature, since heretofore manyenvelop-fasteners have presented this objection to a serious degree. l

Among the principal advantages of my imf provement are its exceedingsimplicity andf cheapness of manufacture and the fact that no time islost in matching the flap with the fastener, so that the same may beclosed and secured by persons of little or Ino skill, andA yet whensecured cannot by any possibility become accidentally unfastened,whileat the same time permitting the opening of the en- A velop whenoccasion requires.

The modification shown in Fig. lOiconsists in the clip a, made of sheetmetal, in which the slot b is formed, and through this slot the ,p endof the closing-flap, which is formed for that purpose, as indicated atd, maybe passed, after which the bending of the clip upon the linesindicated at e will firmly hold .the -fiap against accidentaldisplacement. f

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and usefulisi l. In combination with an envelop, a fastenerattached to the body ofthe envelop, said fastener having indentations in the edges thereof toproduce sections adapted to fold one upon another, as and for thepurpose described.

2. As a new. article of manufacture, an envelop-fastener consisting of asingle piece of metal having prongs by means of which it may be attachedto an envelop, and sections adapted to fold one upon the other and inconjunction with the end of the closing-flap of the-envelop, asspecified.

3. As a new article of manufacture, anenvelop-fastener consisting of asingle piece of sheet metal having prongs formed thereon for attachmentto the body of the envelop, `and indentations in the edges thereof toproduce 4sections adapted to fold one npon the other, yas and for lthepurpose set forth.

4c. Incombination, an envelop having side iiaps and a closing-Hap, afastener consist-ing vof a single pieceiof sheet metal having prongswhereby it is secured to the side iiaps, and

yindentations formed in the sides thereof for :producing sectionsadapted .to fold one .upon the other in conjunction with the Yendsof the:closing-Hap, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto af- 1fixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

IVILLIAM BARNARD.

Witnesses:

R. M. PIERCE, H. B. I-IALLooK.

